3/12/2025 4:22:22 AM	FMA 22 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FMA 22	Title:  SCREENWRITING
Full Title:  Screenwriting
Last Reviewed:2/24/2025

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MEDIA 22

Catalog Description:

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of screenwriting, including story structure.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or higher (V8)

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of FMA 10 ( or MEDIA 10)

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of screenwriting, including story structure.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or higher (V8)
Recommended:Course Completion of FMA 10 ( or MEDIA 10)
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2012	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2012	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Compose a well-developed and properly formatted screenplay.

2. Evaluate a theatrically produced film script.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of screenplay format.

2. Describe screenwriting business practices in the film industry.

3. Analyze a screenplay from an industry reader's perspective.

4. Analyze and demonstrate the use of the "three act" structure.

5. Analyze and demonstrate the use of various character elements including:

     a. character arc

    b. use of foils, protagonists, and antagonists

    c. revelation of character qualities through dramatic action

6. Create dialogue and subtext that demonstrates verisimilitude.

7. Compose at least one act (30 pages) of a refined screenwriting.

Topics and Scope

I. Structuring and Plotting

    A. Three-act structure

    B. Character arcs

    C. The Hero's Journey and other popular structural models

    D. Treatments

II. Formatting

    A. Master scenes

    B. Software and page set-up features

    C. Transitions, camera angles, sound effects, and special effects

    D. Produced scripts versus speculative scripts

III. Writing

    A. Treatments

    B. Character histories

    C. Sequences, scenes, and beats

    D. Action

    E. Dialogue and subtext

    F. Studio coverage on a produced script

IV. Revising

    A. Workshops

    B. Peer critiques

V. Film Analysis

    A. Film grammar

    B. Film genres

VI. Marketing

    A. Pitching

    B. Marketing the speculative "spec" script

Assignments:

1. Readings (40 to 50 pages per week)

    a. Reading and analysis of representative screenplays

    b. Style handbook for proper writing formats

    c. Periodical literature pertinent to screenwriting topics and to the film and television industry which applies to the writer and the writing process

2. Screenings and discussions of representative feature films

3. Writing (60 to 90 pages)

    a. Weekly creative assignments dealing with various topics such as format, dialogue, and characterization

    b. A major screenplay project

4. Participation in group activities, workshops, and peer critiques

5. Quiz(zes) and/or exam(s)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 75 - 75%
Creative assignments, screenplay
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 10%
Quiz(zes) and/or exam(s)
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 15 - 15%
Class Participation and Group Work

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Invisible Ink: A Practical Guide to Building Stories that Resonate. McDonald, Brian.Talking Drum, LLC. 2017. (classic).

The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script. 6th ed. Trottier, David.  Silman-James Press. 2014. (classic).

Making a Good Script Great. 3rd ed. Seger, Linda. Silman-James Press. 2010. (classic).

Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Field, Syd. Delta Press. 2005. (classic).

Writing the Screenplay. 2nd ed. Armer, Alan. Waveland. 2002. (classic).

Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need. 5th ed. Snyder, Blake. Michael Wiese Productions. 2005. (classic).

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